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Meet Receiver Easton Messer
8/31/2025 2:30:00 PM | Football
by Sebastian Gaucher
In early 2025, redshirt junior Easton Messer transferred to Florida Atlantic, after he played his first three seasons at Western Kentucky. The wide receiver had a standout year in 2024, with 55 receptions for 793 yards and four touchdowns. Messer has now brought his talents to Boca Raton to reunite with his former quarterback, Caden Veltkamp, and first-year Hagerty Family Head Football Coach Zach Kittley, who recruited him at Western Kentucky. For Messer, this opportunity allowed him to play in an offense that he is highly familiar with.
That chemistry played off in the Owls' season opener at Maryland, where Messer had a program record-tying 15 receptions in College Park. His day's work is the most for any receiver in Week 1Â and lists the junior receiver atop the country statistically.
In his early years, Messer spent a lot of time living around the world. His father, who is an engineer, was the global operations manager for his company. Born in Louisville, Kentucky, Messer then moved to Indiana at a young age. Throughout his youth, Messer had lived in countries like Costa Rica, Panama and Malaysia and became bilingual fluent in both Spanish and English.
During his time in Malaysia, Messer recalls the relationships he built and the experience. "It was a really good time. The school was a very close-knit community; all of the older kids were pouring into the younger ones," Messer said. He recalled his relationship with one student, who eventually had moved with Messer and his family to pursue his dream as a collegiate basketball player. Messer considers him as a big brother.
Throughout his journey around the world, Messer picked up the game of soccer, a sport that he loves. When he was in middle school, Messer had to decide whether he would continue to play soccer or football. Messer recalls this being an emotional and difficult decision, but he is glad he chose the game of football.
In his senior year of high school, Messer was recruited by Kittley, then-Western Kentucky's offensive coordinator who ultimately departed before his collegiate freshman campaign to run the offense of his alma mater Texas Tech. Throughout Messer's time at WKU, he played in a similar air raid style offense he was recruited for. When he heard of Kittley's new position with the Owls, he decided that he wanted to play in the offense that he had originally gone to Western Kentucky to play.
Messer emphasizes the structured offense Kittley runs, an offense that he has become very familiar with. Because he is so comfortable in this offense, Messer hopes he can share those little secrets and pointers with the other receiving room members. As one of the older players within the unit, Messer has taken on a leadership position, one that comes with a lot of pressure and was voted as one of the team's seven captains. As Messer says, "Pressure is a privilege." He says that pressure is a positive thing, but it is important to not let it affect you in the moment.
To prepare himself for each game, Messer says there are a few superstitions that are part of his routine. He eats the same meal: a large bowl of plain spaghetti. He gets in the same number of catches from the same number of spots. He also listens to the same calm music to ease his nerves before games.
Since his move to South Florida, Messer said that one of his favorite hobbies is to spend time at the beach. He enjoys the outdoors, whether that involves pickleball or picking up surfing, a skill that he really wants to learn.
Throughout his time at Florida Atlantic, Messer hopes he plays a big role in bringing the program back to light. He believes this Owls team can be a leader in the American Conference and wants to bring his full effort to help the team win. Messer hopes he can look back on this team and see the mark that he has left behind.
Messer and the Owls will next play host to Florida A&M in the 2025 home season opener at 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 6.Â
CELEBRATING 25 YEARS
Click HERE for 25 Years Celebration Content.
Â
SEASON TICKETS
To purchase season tickets, click HERE.
Â
GROUPS OF ALL AGES
To purchase group tickets, click HERE.
Â
FOLLOW THE TEAM
Stay informed by reading FAUSports.com or through football's Twitter and Instagram accounts @FAUFootball.
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That chemistry played off in the Owls' season opener at Maryland, where Messer had a program record-tying 15 receptions in College Park. His day's work is the most for any receiver in Week 1Â and lists the junior receiver atop the country statistically.
In his early years, Messer spent a lot of time living around the world. His father, who is an engineer, was the global operations manager for his company. Born in Louisville, Kentucky, Messer then moved to Indiana at a young age. Throughout his youth, Messer had lived in countries like Costa Rica, Panama and Malaysia and became bilingual fluent in both Spanish and English.
During his time in Malaysia, Messer recalls the relationships he built and the experience. "It was a really good time. The school was a very close-knit community; all of the older kids were pouring into the younger ones," Messer said. He recalled his relationship with one student, who eventually had moved with Messer and his family to pursue his dream as a collegiate basketball player. Messer considers him as a big brother.
Throughout his journey around the world, Messer picked up the game of soccer, a sport that he loves. When he was in middle school, Messer had to decide whether he would continue to play soccer or football. Messer recalls this being an emotional and difficult decision, but he is glad he chose the game of football.
In his senior year of high school, Messer was recruited by Kittley, then-Western Kentucky's offensive coordinator who ultimately departed before his collegiate freshman campaign to run the offense of his alma mater Texas Tech. Throughout Messer's time at WKU, he played in a similar air raid style offense he was recruited for. When he heard of Kittley's new position with the Owls, he decided that he wanted to play in the offense that he had originally gone to Western Kentucky to play.
Messer emphasizes the structured offense Kittley runs, an offense that he has become very familiar with. Because he is so comfortable in this offense, Messer hopes he can share those little secrets and pointers with the other receiving room members. As one of the older players within the unit, Messer has taken on a leadership position, one that comes with a lot of pressure and was voted as one of the team's seven captains. As Messer says, "Pressure is a privilege." He says that pressure is a positive thing, but it is important to not let it affect you in the moment.
To prepare himself for each game, Messer says there are a few superstitions that are part of his routine. He eats the same meal: a large bowl of plain spaghetti. He gets in the same number of catches from the same number of spots. He also listens to the same calm music to ease his nerves before games.
Since his move to South Florida, Messer said that one of his favorite hobbies is to spend time at the beach. He enjoys the outdoors, whether that involves pickleball or picking up surfing, a skill that he really wants to learn.
Throughout his time at Florida Atlantic, Messer hopes he plays a big role in bringing the program back to light. He believes this Owls team can be a leader in the American Conference and wants to bring his full effort to help the team win. Messer hopes he can look back on this team and see the mark that he has left behind.
Messer and the Owls will next play host to Florida A&M in the 2025 home season opener at 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 6.Â
CELEBRATING 25 YEARS
Click HERE for 25 Years Celebration Content.
Â
SEASON TICKETS
To purchase season tickets, click HERE.
Â
GROUPS OF ALL AGES
To purchase group tickets, click HERE.
Â
FOLLOW THE TEAM
Stay informed by reading FAUSports.com or through football's Twitter and Instagram accounts @FAUFootball.
Â
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